textproduct: Rapid City

KEY MESSAGES

- Another round of light rain and snow moves in from the southwest late tonight. Precip lasts well into Tuesday.

- General northwest flow will keep unsettled weather in the area through Thursday.

- Temperatures will gradually warm through the week.

DISCUSSION

(This Evening Through Monday) Issued at 138 PM MDT Mon Apr 27 2026

While the day started with rain and snow around the area, the heavier precip has moved east. So NE WY and W SD are looking at drier weather and clearing skies. This won't last long because another round of precip will move into the area from the SW late tonight and last into tomorrow. With the cooler air in place, rain and snow is likely tonight, again, before the precip switches over to rain as temps warm tomorrow. Snowfall totals tonight into tomorrow morning will be highest in the higher elevations of the Black Hills at around 1 to 3 inches, isolated higher amounts around 4 inches can't be ruled out.

As far as the rest of the week goes, it's not looking too bad. An overall northwest flow in the upper levels will keep some low-end PoPs in the forecast through the next several days. The exception is a ridge of high pressure later this week would give clear and sunny skies Thursday night through Friday night. There is even an argument for dry and sunny skies on Saturday but there is a slight chance for showers over the Black Hills Saturday afternoon. Beginning Sunday, the NW flow returns, bringing back the low-end PoPS.

The EFI tables are not highlighting highly elevated winds this week. That being said, Wednesday is looking like the next day where the winds could be higher. Winds around the area tonight through tomorrow night will be around 5 to 10 mph, not too bad. Wednesday is when the area will see a change from these lighter winds. Winds will swing to the northwest and pick up speeds to around 10 to 20 mph, gusts upwards of 30 mph. Thursday will be similar. Wind speeds like this aren't bad for what we are used to but it's a change from what we'll experience through Tuesday night. So just something to keep in mind, that wind speeds will be a touch higher Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures will be on the rise this week as well. Overnight lows will be stuck in the upper 20s to low 30s through Thursday night. Afternoon highs will warm much more quickly. Tomorrow's (Tuesday) highs will be in the 40s to near 50 but Wednesday and Thursday will be much warmer with highs in the 50s to near 60. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be warmer still with highs in the 60s to low 70s.

AVIATION

(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Tuesday Evening) Issued At 533 PM MDT Mon Apr 27 2026

MVFR conditions will continue tonight into Tuesday, though a few areas may drop to IFR with patchy fog. IFR conditions across the Black Hills area are also expected overnight. The next system will bring rain to the western SD plains (snow across the Black Hills area) Tuesday morning into the afternoon, then will exit from west to east. This will bring additional MVFR/IFR conditions, but then improvements to VFR are expected behind the system.

UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

SD...None. WY...None.